ABSTRACT
Abstract: Background: Alopecia areata (AA) is a common disorder of unknown etiology that affects approximately 0.7% to 3.8% of patients among the general population. Currently, genetic and autoimmune factors are emphasized as etiopathogenic. Studies linking Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) to AA have suggested that immunogenetic factors may play a role in the disease's onset/development. Objectives: To investigate an association between AA and HLA class I/II in white Brazilians. Methods: Patients and control groups comprised 33 and 112 individuals, respectively. DNA extraction was performed by column method with BioPur kit. Allele's classification was undertaken using the PCR-SSO technique. HLA frequencies were obtained through direct counting and subjected to comparison by means of the chi-square test. Results: Most patients were aged over 16, with no familial history, and developed partial AA, with no recurrent episodes. Patients showed a higher frequency of HLA-B*40, HLA-B*45, HLA-B*53 and HLA-C*04 compared with controls, although P was not significant after Bonferroni correction. Regarding HLA class II, only HLA-DRB1*07 revealed statistical significance; nevertheless, it featured more prominently in controls than patients (P=0.04; Pc=0.52; OR=0.29; 95%; CI=0.07 to 1.25). P was not significant after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions: The development of AA does not seem to be associated with HLA in white Brazilians, nor with susceptibility or resistance. The studies were carried out in populations with little or no miscegenation, unlike the Brazilian population in general, which could explain the inconsistency found.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adolescent , Adult , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/genetics , Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/genetics , Brazil , Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/blood , HLA-B Antigens/genetics , HLA-B Antigens/blood , HLA-C Antigens/genetics , HLA-C Antigens/blood , Histocompatibility Antigens Class II/blood , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , White People , Alopecia Areata/genetics , Alopecia Areata/immunology , HLA-DRB1 Chains/genetics , HLA-DRB1 Chains/blood , Gene Frequency/geneticsABSTRACT
The etiology of alopecia areata is not clear, but a possible autoimmune cause has been suggested. Serum zinc levels in alopecia areata has been studied, but the reported results were discordant. The aim of this study was to measure the serum zinc levels of the patients with alopecia areata and to compare it with those of the control group. In this case-control study, 46 alopecia areata patients admitted to the skin clinic of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Jundishapour University of Medical Sciences in Ahwaz and 33 sex and age matched individuals were studied. The serum zinc levels of both groups were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry and the results were compared. The mean +/- SD serum zinc level was 873 +/- 154.9 micg/l and in alopecia areata patients 831.8 +/- 155.8 micg/l in control group[P>0.05]. No difference was observed between the serum zinc levels of patients with alopecia areata and controls. More studies for evaluation of a possible relationship between serum zinc levels and alopecia areata is recommended
Subject(s)
Humans , Alopecia Areata/immunology , Alopecia Areata/blood , Zinc/blood , Zinc , Case-Control StudiesABSTRACT
La alopecia areata es una enfermedad dermatológica caracterizada por áreas o parches de alopecia con bordes netos en cuero cabelludo (principalmente) y resto del cuerpo. Es no cicatricial y tiene un curso impredecible, incluso la involución espontánea. Corresponde al 2 por ciento de las consultas dermatológicas. Puede asociarse a alteraciones autoinmunes como la tiroiditis de Hashimoto, vitíligo y atopia. Hasta una 20 por ciento de los pacientes tienen antecedentes familiares de la enfermedad. Actualmente puede tratarse con corticoides intralesionales, inmunoterapia tópica o sistémica, antralina, minoxidil y fotoquimioterapia. El tratamiento y la evolución dependen principalmente de dos factores: extensión y la edad de los pacientes.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alopecia Areata/diagnosis , Alopecia Areata/etiology , Alopecia Areata/drug therapy , Alopecia Areata/genetics , Alopecia Areata/immunology , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Diagnosis, Differential , Prognosis , Signs and SymptomsABSTRACT
La alopecía areata es un motivo de consulta habitual, afecta a ambos sexos, su mayor incidencia se encuentra entre los 20 y los 50 años. Se caracteriza por el taque de los folículos pilosos en anágeno. Si bien no es posible definir una causa concreta se reconoce la importancia de los mecanismos autoinmunes. En los últimos años se han logrado importantes avances en lo que se refiere a marcadores genéticos, rol de las citoquinas y en estudios sobre la papila como posible blanco de la enfermedad. Se reseñan los factores genéticos, psicológicos, neurológicos, vasculares e infecciosos presuntamente implicados.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alopecia Areata/epidemiology , Alopecia Areata/etiology , Alopecia Areata/genetics , Alopecia Areata/immunology , Alopecia Areata/physiopathology , Alopecia Areata/psychology , Genetic MarkersABSTRACT
Twenty five patients with alopecia areata and 20 healthy controls were studied by flowcytometry employing direct two colour immunofluorescence in erythrocyte lysed whole blood. A significant reduction was observed in helper/inducer (CD4+) lymphocytes (29.4 +/- 7.4 vs 39.45 +/- 8.0, P < 0.01) and B (CD 19+) lymphocytes (11.04 +/- 6.57 vs 15.0 +/- 5.05, P < 0.01) in comparison with healthy controls. Decrease in T-lymphocytes (CD3+) and suppressor/cytotoxic (CD8+) was not significant and activated (HLADR+) lymphocytes and natural killer cells (CD16+ and CD56+) were within normal limits. Our findings suggest a significant T helper (CD4+) and B (CD19+) cell lymphopenia in alopecia areata.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Alopecia Areata/immunology , Antigens, CD19/blood , CD4 Antigens/blood , Case-Control Studies , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Flow Cytometry , Humans , Lymphopenia/immunology , MaleABSTRACT
Twenty patients [15 males and 5 females] suffering from alopecia areata in different sites were examined and counts of total T-cell, T- helper and T-suppressor cells were determined by using monoclonal antibodies [OKT3, OKT4 and OKT8, respectively]. Results showed that there is a decrease of total T-cell in alopecia areata patients as compared with control subjects which was explained by several factors one of which is suppressed cell mediated immunity. The count of T-helper cells was nonsignificant, while T-suppressor cell count was significant lower than control subjects and T-helper/T- suppressor ratio was significantly increased supporting the hypothesis of autoimmune etiology
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Alopecia Areata/immunology , CD4 Lymphocyte CountABSTRACT
A Alopecia areata é uma doença comum, para a qual tem-se procurado, desde há muito tempo, uma explicaçäo etiopatogênica satisfatória sem que até o momento se tenha conseguido. Estudamos, no Hospital José Joaquim Aguirre da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Chile, diferentes parâmetros imunológicos em 142 pacientes portadores de Alopecia areata de diferentes graus, procurando explicar uma etiopatogenia imunológica para esta doença. Nossa conclusäo fundamental é que uma clara imunodeficiência celular nestes pacientes, avaliada através de Teste do dinitroclorobenzeno e Teste de Roseta E (linfócitos T x mm3 de sangue periférico). Como objetivo para mais estudos no futuro, acreditamos nos achados conflitantes da imunofluorescência indireta e direta, que avaliamos em 23 e 9 de nossos pacientes, respectivamente